Club 80-90 Forums

Hi,

I've recently purchased a 1981 Westy and am just trying to work out what runs off the main battery and what runs off the leisure battery so as I don't flatten the main battery when camping.

I disconnected what I think is the leisure battery (under near side seat (left hand drive) and the lights in the back, electric tap etc still work. Does this mean that everything is connected to the main battery and if so what does the leisure actually do?

Thanks in advance

Steve

so did you try to start the engine...just to be sure it was the main?

Hi,
Yes I tried to start it and it still started with this battery disconnected so presumably this is the leisure battery?
Is it normal for all the electrics to still work with this connected or am I going to end up with a flat battery!

By Near side on lhd do you mean the left one under the lhd drivers seat.

That's where the leisure battery lives in mine. I have a diesel so the starter battery is in the engine bay.

Pretty sure Westys left factory with the lights running of the standard running battery although it is a popular conversion to rewire them to run from the leisure battery. I'd have expected the tap to run from the leisure battery and also the eber heater uses this. How about the led water and power level lights on the panel in front of the sink?

Look out for any cigar lighters as they could be running off either too. The standard Westy one is a DIN socket near the glovebox and on mine connects to the starter battery. (not that I have anything that fits this socket)

Yes it's the one under the Lhd drivers seat.
I'll check the power level LEDs tomorrow but wondering what the point of the leisure battery is?
In my case, I think the heater has been removed and the guy I bought it off said the fridge only works on mains.

Struggling to get my head around it!

The point of the aux batt is not to use the main.
You clearly have a problem...

not a westy owner sorry

For all their GERMAN logic they certainly managed to get this wrong.

From what I understand: The Leisure battery should supply the Ebber/Kitchen block LED's/sink pump/ignite to the fridge (depending on type) and camping lights.
However
Interior lights and radio come off the starter battery.

You may find that the split charge relay contacts have welded themselves together, connecting both batteries permanently.

As was said ^^^^^^^^ there is a simple wiring mod that re-routes all 'camping electrics' (incl the radio and front interior lights) to the leisure battery, which is exactly how you want it.

Martin

California Dreamin wrote:For all their GERMAN logic they certainly managed to get this wrong.

From what I understand: The Leisure battery should supply the Ebber/Kitchen block LED's/sink pump/ignite to the fridge (depending on type) and camping lights.
However
Interior lights and radio come off the starter battery.

The "camping lights" - ie all the interior lights in the back - come off the starter battery unless it's been switched. All the interior lights are off the same (normal fuse box) fuse.

You can kinda see Westfalia's logic - they've taken the interior light feed off the normal interior lights, which are part of the original van electrickery. Same with the dash. Meanwhile, all the circuits they've added come off the leisure. So there's no mods to the original VW wiring, just additions.

It's probably not what you or I would do, sure. But you can kinda see their logic.

California Dreamin wrote:For all their GERMAN logic they certainly managed to get this wrong.

From what I understand: The Leisure battery should supply the Ebber/Kitchen block LED's/sink pump/ignite to the fridge (depending on type) and camping lights.
However
Interior lights and radio come off the starter battery.

You may find that the split charge relay contacts have welded themselves together, connecting both batteries permanently.

As was said ^^^^^^^^ there is a simple wiring mod that re-routes all 'camping electrics' (incl the radio and front interior lights) to the leisure battery, which is exactly how you want it.

Martin

I thought the mod was for the later van?
If it works on my old style fuse board I'll give it a go!

Where can I find the split charge relay?
Presumably a can test this by disconnecting the main battery and if it still starts, assume the relay is shorted?

Thanks again so far

Pullafacial wrote:Where can I find the split charge relay?
Presumably a can test this by disconnecting the main battery and if it still starts, assume the relay is shorted?

That might be asking a bit too much of the wiring and relay. Probably a fairer test is to disconnect the main battery then put the sidelights on. Or remove either battery, and just test with a multimeter to see if you've got +12v at the +ve terminal.

Remember, though, if the split relay IS stuck closed, then you've got a serious shorting risk if you have EITHER +ve terminal disconnected dangling near bodywork.

AdrianC wrote:

Pullafacial wrote:Where can I find the split charge relay?
Presumably a can test this by disconnecting the main battery and if it still starts, assume the relay is shorted?

That might be asking a bit too much of the wiring and relay. Probably a fairer test is to disconnect the main battery then put the sidelights on. Or remove either battery, and just test with a multimeter to see if you've got +12v at the +ve terminal.

Remember, though, if the split relay IS stuck closed, then you've got a serious shorting risk if you have EITHER +ve terminal disconnected dangling near bodywork.

Thanks.

I've had another poke about today with my limited electrical knowledge!
Basically the battery's seem to be acting as one. I can disconnect the negative terminal of either battery and the electrics still work. I'm no expert but I'm guessing this is not normal?
I also have a problem in that the van won't start after a few days of standing, could these issues be related and any idea what the problem could be?
I've been researching on here and I'm wondering if the split charge relay is faulty but I have no idea where it is or how to test it or if it would cause the battery to drain?

Any more help greatly appreciated!

Basically the battery's seem to be acting as one. I can disconnect the negative terminal of either battery and the electrics still work. I'm no expert but I'm guessing this is not normal?
I also have a problem in that the van won't start after a few days of standing, could these issues be related and any idea what the problem could be?
I've been researching on here and I'm wondering if the split charge relay is faulty but I have no idea where it is or how to test it or if it would cause the battery to drain?

Electrics still work with either earth lead disconnected! which electrics?

Yes there is a possibility that the split charge relay has 'welded' itself together..as in..there is a permanent connection between the two batteries (usually requires the fitment of a new relay) which is the handbrake side of the leisure battery box on the drivers side (have a look down the gap) battery lid up.

Yes it could be flattening the starter battery if there is a drain....this needs checking out with an ammeter.

Martin

Ok, so it sounds like its beyond my ability!
I've got a mate who will have a look at some point but until then, if I disconnect the negative terminal of the starter battery when not in use, will that stop the battery draining?

No, not if they are connected as you say.. you need to disconnect both earth straps

It'll stop the starter battery draining, since that won't have a complete circuit. But - since the leisure's connected to both +ve and -ve, it won't stop that from draining.

If you sort the apparently-stuck split-charge relay, then that'll break the connection between the two +ves, so the leisure won't have a complete circuit either.

The one thing you don't want to do <repeats self> is to disconnect the +ve from one of them, with the split still broke. Sparkiness may ensue.